BBC announces partnership with the Great Exhibition of the North

A raft of flagship BBC programmes will broadcast live from the Exhibition, showcasing the variety of events taking place in NewcastleGateshead and across the north, throughout the summer of 2018.

Published: 27 February 2018
The Great Exhibition of the North promises to be a fantastic celebration of culture, creativity and innovation... Through this partnership we can showcase the best of the north and bring the excitement of the Great Exhibition to every household
— Tony Hall, Director-General

Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC, says: “The Great Exhibition of the North promises to be a fantastic celebration of culture, creativity and innovation across the north. We’ve made a huge commitment to the north in recent years, and it really matters to us. Through this partnership we can showcase the best of the north and bring the excitement of the Great Exhibition to every household.

“We are committed to bringing more of our content to audiences in the north of England, and I’m thrilled that we will have a mix of news, current affairs, sport and music broadcasting live from the Great Exhibition of the North.”

During the Great Exhibition of the North, which runs from 22 June to 9 September, the BBC will offer a variety of output across radio, TV and online services.

Sunderland-born Lauren Laverne will be back in her North East heartland as she broadcasts her popular BBC Radio 6 Music show live from the Sage Gateshead.

Lauren says: “The north is great, the BBC is great and this exhibition is going to be great. So it’s a perfect partnership. I can’t wait to play a part in putting a spotlight on what is happening in NewcastleGateshead this summer.”

The BBC Breakfast red sofa, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and BBC Radio 5 live will also be heading to NewcastleGateshead.

In its 60th anniversary year, iconic BBC Children’s show Blue Peter will visit the North East this summer. The series’ 1998 time capsule will be on tour in the region before it is reburied as part of its big birthday year, for another generation to open in the future. Plus, the CBBC HQ gang will be in NewcastleGateshead to meet young Exhibition goers.

During the summer, BBC Arts will reflect some of the Exhibition’s activities across its topical shows. And, on 22 June, BBC Arts Digital will work in partnership with the NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) to deliver a day of live online coverage of the launch events, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes action.

As part of BBC Research & Development’s ongoing relationship with BBC Arts and its commitment to the culture sector, BBC R&D is thrilled to be working with the Great Exhibition of the North team, opening up innovative tools and technologies to a brand new community of artists as part of the Exhibition.

In addition, the BBC Blue Room will take up residency in NewcastleGateshead, demonstrating state of the art technology, including virtual reality, artificial intelligence and voice recognition.

BBC Introducing will also host events during the Exhibition, and BBC Look North and BBC Newcastle will provide extensive coverage of the Great Exhibition. Plus, BBC Sport will broadcast live coverage of the Great North Run on BBC One.

Further details of more BBC activity during the Great Exhibition of the North will be released in the coming weeks.

Sir Gary Verity, Chairman of the Great Exhibition of the North, says: “We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to ensure more people across the country have the opportunity to engage with the Great Exhibition of the North in 2018.

“The Exhibition itself may be taking place in NewcastleGateshead but it’s a celebration of the whole of the north. Our 80-day programme will highlight many of the innovations and inventions from the north that are changing how we live now and in the future. Towns and cities will also be hosting events and experiences as part of our ‘Inspired By’ programme giving the Exhibition a true northern flavour.”

Notes to Editors
Great Exhibition of the North 2018 is a summer of exhibits, technology, performance and culture celebrating the north. The free, family-friendly exhibition takes place in NewcastleGateshead from Friday 22 June to Sunday 9 September. For more information visit Great Exhibition of the North

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